Latch mechanism



Sept. 7, 1954 R. F. JENSEN 2,683,508

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 26, 1950 2 sheets-511661 l INVENTOR.- lut 9 ck Br a /2 Sept, 7, 1954 R, r JENSEN 2,688,508

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 26, 195C 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W12 8 Wj/3 Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH. MECHANISMv Robert Funck lensen, Arhus, Denmark Application January 26, 1950 Serial No. 140,578

Claims priority, application' Denmark February 12, 1949 g where small snap locks are used.

It is a purpose oi the invention to provide a lock. of this type, which combines rigidness of the mechanical parts with an attractive finish of the lock.

A further purpose of the invention is to pro vide a lock, which is simple and cheap in pro-- duction, and which can be made in rational mass production.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a lock, the parts or" which can be made` and assembled to provide a rigid lock with an attrae tive outer appearance Without the necessity of giving the outer surface any special finishing treatments.

Still a further purpose is to provide a lock which is so constructed; that the parts of they lock mechanism can be made in view of mechanical requirements only and assembled with visible parts, which substantially are made only to iulliil the requirements of an attractive appearance, in order to provide an as well attractive as rigid lock construction. y

With these and other objects in viewy the invention will novvv be further described with reference to the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the outer' cas-` ing for a lock according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective View oi an extended spring bolt with appertaining spring fora lock according to the invention,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a member forming the rear guide for the spring bolt shown in Figure 2 together with bearings for the lock handle and adapted to be connected with. the housing,

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a lock member adapted to cooperate with a nose of the spring bolt in closed position of the door or the like',y on which the lock is arranged,

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a complete lock assembled from the parts shown in Figures 1-4 completed with a handle,

Figure 6 is a sectional View of the handle along the line 6 6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 2, but illustrating a modied spring bolt,

Figure 8 is a perspective View, similar to. Figurev 3, but showing a modified embodiment of the rear guide member,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of still. another embodiment. of said rear guide member,

Figure 10l is a perspective View, similar to Figure l, but showing a modification,

Figure ll is a perspective view, illustrating a still further modied embodiment of the rear V guidemem-ber,

Fig-ure 12 is a perspective View of a further embodiment of said member,

Figure 13 is a perspective' view of still a further modiiication ot said member,

10, Figure 14 is a perspective view of a modied embodiment oi the said member,

Figure l5'is a perspective view of another modification of the saidV rear guide member, and

Figure 16 is av sectional view through a lock assembled by the partsv shown in Figures 1.0 and 20 ture with a top wall I2 and a side wall- I4, said walls surrounding an opensided chamber. In the top wall is provided an aperture i6 made by three cuts il, I8 and I9, leaving a flap 20. connected with the wall along the line 22. Preferably a narrow strip is cut away along the sides soV that: the flap is narrower than the aperture. As it appears from Figure 1 this iiap is raised to an inclined position with respect tothe top wall. Preferably the end portion of the flap is bent at 2t to a position substantially parallel with the top wall I2. In the side wall I4 a further aperture 26 is provided at the part of the side Wall I4, which is nearest to the front edge I'i of the aperture I6.

It wil-L be understood that this casing can easily be made from sheet metal by means of cutting tools inl a few simple operations. Since, as it will appear from the following description, this casing according to the characteristic features i0 of the construction of the lock is not subjected' to` any substantial mechanical forces rather thin plate can be used for this part of the lock, so that theV material can be of higher quality, for instance stainless steel or the like, which does not need any surface treatment. InA the case oi a lock construction where this part of the lock would be. subjected to mechanical forces, more solid material would` be necessary, sov that a. cheaper material would have to be used in order to provide a cheap lock. This, hoWever,.

would necessitate a later'surface treatment such as. chromium plating' in order to: keep: the surface resistant. to moisture, vapours and the like', which normal-1y are present in kitchens, where 5' locks. of this kind are used. Such surface treatment, however, is one of the most expensive steps in production.

To construct the housing or casing so that it is not subjected to any substantial mechanical forces means that it can be made of thin material of high quality which accordingly is a considerable contribution to the art.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to produce the casing of plate material. Since the casing is not subjected to any substantial forces, but constructed substantially in view of an attractive appearance it will also be possible to use a housing of the form shown made by plastic or the like materials, which as well as stainless steel are resistant to moisture and vapours and will keep its appearance attractive.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the spring bolt to be used in the lock. The spring bolt is made from a piece of iron or steel band. The bolt, which is generally referred to as 28 has a body portion 38 and a nose 32 formed by bending the material arcuate downwardly at 34 thereby forming an inclined lower surface 3G at the front. At the rear end the spring bolt has a portion 38, which is less in width than the body portion 28 leaving shoulders 48 and 42 at the rear end of the body portion. These shoulders form abutments for a spring 44. In the body portion a part of the material is cut free and bent upwardly to form a projection 46.

It will be understood that this spring bolt can easily be made by cutting tools.

It will also be possible, however, to make the spring bolt by moulding in which case the projection 46 can be made in form of a small cylindrical pin 46a, as shown in Figure 7. This latter embodiment, however, could instead be produced from steel band.

The remaining inner part of the lock is the element generally referred to at 48 shown in Figure 3. This element is also made from plate material. It consists of a nat portion 58, which has a perpendicular end flange 52 provided with an aperture 54 corresponding in size to the cross section of the rear part 38 of the spring bolt 28. At the other end the material is bent along a line 56 and the element 48 here terminates in an inclined portion 58 forming an angle with the portion 58, which is substantially equal to the angle between the top wall l2 and the inclined portion 28 of the casing I0. The inclined portion 58 ls provided with side flaps 68 and 62 bent downwardly at right angles and provided with holes 64 and 66 for mounting of the handle pin.

In accordance with the general purpose of providing a cheap and simple lock, the lock member adapted to cooperate with the nose of the spring bolt 28 is made in form of a screw as shown in Figure 4. The screw has a screw threaded part 68 and a head 18. This head is conical at 'I2 and in the top part provided with a notch 14. The lower surface of the screw head under the conical part is substantially flat at 16.

By the assembling of the lock as shown in section in Figure the part 48 is mounted in the casing I8 in the manner shown, so that the flat portion 58 engages the top part |2 of the casing,

with its nose part projecting through the aperture 26 in the wall |4 of the housing, and with its rear part guided in the aperture 54 in the ange 52. The rear end of the spring 44 engages the frontal surface of the flange 52, thus exerting a spring action on the spring bolt to keep it in its projecting position.

In order to retract the spring bolt a pivotable handle 88 is provided. The form and construction of this handle and its connection with the other parts will appear from Figures 5 and 6. The handle may be cut and pressed in shape from sheet metal, preferably of the same kind as used for the casing I8. In the embodiment shown the housing has an arcuate portion 82 of a width corresponding to the width of the inclined portion 58 or slightly wider. To avoid sharp edges the material of the handle along the edges is bent downwardly at 84 and rolled inwardly at 85. Also the left side part of the handle is curved at 86 and terminates in an edge 88. At the left hand side the bent portions extend in side portions 98, in which are provided apertures G2 corresponding to the apertures 64 and 66 in the flaps 68 and 62. The side portions 98 are dimensioned to cover and hide these flaps 60 and 62, and a part of the edges of the inclined portion 28. Preferably the rolled edges 85 only extend along the finger portion of the handle leaving free edges of the side portions 98. The handle is pivotably mounted by means of a pin or bolt 94 extending through the apertures 92 in the handle side portions 98, and the corresponding holes 64 and 86. It will be easily understood from Fig. 5 that the retraction of the spring bolt 28 is effected by the engagement between the handle edge 88 and the projection 46 by putting a iinger in the handle and swinging it in direction of the arrow 2. When mounting the lock the assembly is arranged near the edge of a door 96. 'Ihe xing of the lock is made by means of screws (not shown) through holes 98 and 99 in the casing. rEhe screw 'I8 with the conical head is arranged on the door frame 9T to allow the nose part of the spring bolt to grip under the surface '16. The notch 14 in the screw head enables a very simple and easy adjustment merely by using a screw driver. In locking the door no operation of the lock handle is necessary, because the inclined front part 36 of the spring bolt nose will slide along the conical surface of the screw to retract the spring bolt, which will then snap with its nose part under the surface 16. The opening of the door is easily effected just by putting a nger under the handle pulling slightly outwards.

In the modification shown, such parts which correspond to parts already described are designated with same reference numerals as in Figures 1 through 6.

In the embodiment of the unit 48 as shown in Fig. 8 the side flaps 68 and 62 have been omitted, and the bearing for the handle spindle 94 is provided by rolling the top edge of the inclined part 58 at |88. It will be understood that the lock and the way it operates will be exactly like the lock shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 9 shows a modified embodiment of the unit 48, in which this is substantially formed to suit the form of the casing. .In Figure 9 only half part of the unit 48 is shown. The unit here has a top wall |82 and a side wall |84. In the top wall a screw hole |86 for mounting the lock is provided. The inclined portion 58 is provided by cutting at |83 and |85 through the top wall |82 bending the material to the inclined position along a bending line |508- in the same manner as the inclined portion 2-0' of the casing, Fig. 1, isn made. The bearing for the handle bolt is asl in the case of Figure 8 made by rolling the top edge of the inclined portion 58' at I |20; Behind the inclined portion 582 other cuts ||2| and- ||3 are made in the top wall |02-, and the material here is ben-t downwardly along a bending line ||`2 to form a flap I I4. In this flap an aperture |'I6 is provided to form the rear guide for the spring bolt. Oppo site the flap ||4 a corresponding aperture I|8A is provided in the wall |04- toform the fron-t guidefor the spring bolt.

It will be understood that this embodiment of the unit 48 enables very thin material to be used for the casing. Thus, for instance the casing may in such embodiment of the lock be made from a very thin plastic sheet secured t-o the unit 48 by a convenient adhesive. Itl will also be possible by using such construction of the unit 48A to form the casing directly on the surface of the unit. To this purpose the unitv 48 may be arranged on a core corresponding to the interior of the unit and having projecting parts through the screw holes and the apertures left in the top wall, where the material from the iiaps 58` and I4 is missing, so that these projections of the core are in plan with the topl surface of the wall |02'. Hereby the unit can be immersed in a suitable solution of plastic, which will leave a film on the surface. This film will then only have to be broken in the screw holes and the apertures under the inclined portion 58.

It will be understood that while the casing as shown in Figure 1 is of circular shape the invention is not limited hereto, thus for instance the casing may be made in form of a square box as shown in Figure 10, having end Walls 1 and side walls 8, at right angles to each other but in other respects corresponding to the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

A further embodiment of the unit 48v is shown in Figure l1. This embodiment differs from that shown in Figure 3 thereby that the flat central portion 50 is broader than the inclined portion 58 and is provided with screw holes |20 and |22 as in the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 9. The sides of the central portion 5.0 in Figure 11 is connected with downwardly extending side walls, of which only the front wall |24v is shown. This embodiment represents a construction between the two other embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 9 respectively and' can be used as wel-l in connection with a housing of circular shape or a housing of square shape as that shown in Figure 10.

While hereinbefore only embodiments have been described where the walls of the unit are extending downwardly in the same direction as the walls of the casing, it will be understood that also the opposite arrangement will be possible within the scope of the invention.

Thus for instance Figure 13 shows an embodiment of a box-like interior lock unit with the opening extending upwardly. This unit consists of a square box with bottom |25, side walls |28 and |30 and a front wall |32, in which an aperture |34 serving as a front guide for the spring bolt is provided. From the rear end |36 of the bottom 2 cuts |33 and |40 are provided enabling a flap |42 to be bent in upward direction. In this flap, which corresponds tothe iiange `52 in Figure 3 an aperture |44 serving as rear guide for the spring bolt is provided. The top part ofthe flap |42 extends a Vertical portion |46 correspending to the portion 50l in Figure 3 and an inclined' portion |48', the end of' which is rolled at |50 to form a bearing for the handle bolt. Itr will be appreciated that looking apart from an upwardly open box this embodiment corresponds to that shown in Figure 8.

A similar embodiment combining the features of the Figures 3 and 13v shown in Figure 12 onL a stage .before the part |42, |46, |48 has beeno raised to the position shown in Figure 13".

In case of these embodiments being used in connection with a. housing of very thin material, the top. edges of the side walls |28 and |30.may as shown in Figures 14 and' 15'. provided with sidewardly extending flanges |52 and. |54` with screwholes |56 and |58. These fianges will here serve the vpurpose of taking up. the force from the fastening screwsY thus enabling the 'housing itself to be unloadedl fromv these forces and therefore be made of very thin plate orl other` materiali, which is not. mechanical resistant.

It. will be understood that the invention is. notlimited to the embodiments described, and' that they diiierent specific embodiments can be changed, so that features from one embodiment can. bev combined with features from another to provide still other combinations within the scopeof the appended claims.

Thus for instance in the embodiments shown in Figures 9 and 12 through'l' the part of' the wall, in which the aperture forming the front guide for the spring bolt can be omitted in case of the housing havingy sufcient mechanical strength to form in itself such guide.

Figure 16 shows an assembling of a lock with` an interior unitA of the shown in Figure 13 or 15. In this case the housing is not subjected to any substantial mechanical forces. Concerning the handle it will also` be understood that while in Figures 5 and 6? this is supposed to be pressed of sheet metal a moulded handle, for

instance made of plastic may also be used, especially in cases where lthe casing is provided by such material in. order that. the handle may match the visible part of the lock.

While in the foregoing the connection between the casing and the interior supporting unit, i-nv which the handle bolt bearing and at least the rear guide for the spring bolt are provided, has been referred to as a fixed connection it will be understood that in some of the embodiments shown this is not necessary. For instance the embodiments shown in Figures 11, 14 and 1'5', in which screw holes are provided in the interior units, will by the mounting automatically be'- kept in the right position relatively to the casing by means of the screws. The embodiment shown in Figure 9, whichv may either be made i-n formI of two half parts or in form of a single part .can be given such dimensions, that it will main-tain its position by friction after being pressed` in the hollow chamber of the housing by a light pressure such as a finger pressure. The samemay count for the units shown in Figures 14 and- 15 by giving the round side flanges |52 and l5i` substantially the same diameter as the interior diameter of the casing.

Having now described different embodiments of the invention, the combination of novel features will be found in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a latch mechanism the combination of a housing having a top wall and a side wall structure,y an opening in said side wall structure, an opening in said top wall', a latch bolt mounted to reciprocate in said housing, said latch ibolt.

having a rear end and a front end, said .front end projecting through said opening in said side wall, a supporting member arranged in said housing and secured relatively thereto, said supporting member including a portion having an opening opposite said opening in said side wall for guiding said rear end of said latch bolt, a spring for projecting said latch bolt, said supporting member further having a portion extending into said opening in said top wall, a bolt retracting lever pivotally mounted on said latter supporting member portion and provided with a portion projecting through said opening in said top wall to engage said bolt, said lever forming outside said housing a handle.

2. In a latch mechanism the combination of a' housing having a top wall and a side wall structure, a portion of said side walls having an aperture, said top wall including a portion having an aperture, a supporting member arranged in said housing and secured relatively thereto, said supporting member including a portion opposite said apertured side wall portion, said supporting member portion having an aperture in alignment with said side wall aperture, said supporting structure further having a portion extending into said top wall aperture, an elongated latch bolt supported in said opposite apertures in said side wall and said supporting member portion respectively mounted to reciprocate in said housing and provided with a nger projecting through said opening in said side wall in normal latching position, a spring for projecting said latch bolt, a bolt retracting lever pivotally mounted on said portion of said supporting member which extends into said top wall aperture, said lever having a portion projecting through saidA aperture in said top Wall to engage said bolt, and said lever forming outside said housing a handle.

3. In a latch structure, an exterior housing and an interior supporting member, means for holding said housing and said supporting member in mutual position, said housing comprising a top wall having an opening and a side wall having an opening, said supporting member cornprising a portion opposite said aperture in said side wall and having in said portion an opening forming with said opening in said side wall a slideway, a plate formed latch bolt mounted in said slide way to reciprocate therein projecting through said opening in said side wall, said supporting member further comprising a bearing portion, a handle pivotally journalled on said bearing portion, said handle having a portion projecting through said opening in said top wall, an abutment extending from said latch bolt in the path of said projecting handle portion to be engaged thereby for retracting said latch bolt by the pivoting of said handle, a shoulder on said latch bolt and a spring between said shoulder and said supporting structure portion opposite said aperture in said side wall for projecting said latch bolt in normal latching position.

4. In a latch structure, a one piece sheet metal housing defining a chamber and a one piece sheet metal supporting member arranged within said housing, means for holding said housing and said supporting member in mutual position, said housing comprising a top Wall having an opening and a side wall having an opening, said supporting member having a portion spaced from and opposite said opening in said side wall and having in said portion an opening, a latch bolt mounted to reciprocate in said openings to project from said housing, said supporting member further having a portion extending into said top wall opeing, said portion forming a pivot bearing, a handle pivotally journalled on said bearing and comprising a portion projecting through said top wall opening into said chamber, an abutment extending from said latch bolt in the path of said projecting handle portion to be engaged thereby for retracting said latch bolt by the pivoting of said handle, and resilient means between said latch bolt and said supporting structure for projecting said latch bolt in normal latching position.

5. In a latch mechanism the combination of a latch housing formed from a single blank comprising a top wall having an aperture and a side wall structure defining with said top wall a hollow chamber having in said side wall structure an aperture, a supporting member formed from a single blank comprising a body portion, a first portion extending substantially perpendicular therefrom in one direction and having an aperture, a second portion extending inclined from said body portion in opposite direction of said rst extending portion and having means for supporting a spindle, means for securing said housing and said supporting member in mutual position with said body portion of said supporting member engaging the interior side of said top wall of said housing with said second portion extending through the aperture therein and with said first portion spaced from and opposite the aperture in said side wall, an elongated latch bolt slidably supported in said apertures, a shoulder on said latch bolt, a spring between said shoulder and said first apertured portion of said supporting member to project said latch bolt in normal latching position, a handle having a handle portion and an arcuate portion, said arcuate portion having side walls, a spindle axis supported in said spindle, supporting means on said second supporting member portion and extending through said handle side walls, said arcuate handle portion extending through said aperture in said top wall into said chamber and an abutment extending from said latch bolt in the path of said projecting handle portion to be engaged thereby for retracting said latch bolt by the pivoting of said handle on said axis.

6. In a latch mechanism the combination of a latch housing comprising a top wall having an aperture and a side wall having an aperture and defining with said top wall a hollow chamber, a supporting member having a body portion, a rst extending portion substantially perpendicular thereto, said rst extending portion having an aperture, a second extending portion inclined with respect to said body portion, said inclined portion having means for supporting a pivot pin, means for holding said housing and said supporting member in mutual position with said body portion of said supporting member engaging the interior side of said top wall of said housing, said inclined portion extending through the top wall aperture therein and said perpendicular portion spaced from and opposite the aperture in said side wall, an elongated latch bolt slidably supported in said apertures, resilient means between said latch bolt and said member to project said latch bolt in normal latching position, a handle comprising a handle portion and a bolt retracting portion, a pivot pin supporting said handle on said inclined supporting member portion in a position with said arcuate bolt retracting portion extending through said top wall aperture and an abutment extending from said latch bolt in the path of said bolt retracting handle portion to be engaged thereby for retracting said latch bolt by pivoting said handle on said pivot.

7. In a latch mechanism the combination of a latch housing comprising a top wall having an aperture and a side Wall having an aperture and defining with said top wall a hollow chamber, an elongated supporting member having one end portion bent substantially perpendicular thereto in one direction and provided in said end with an aperture, and an opposite end portion bent inclined in opposite direction of said rst end portion, said inclined portion having means forming a pivot bearing, means for holding said housing and said supporting member in mutual position with said supporting member inside said chamber with said inclined portion extending through the top wall aperture therein and with said apertured portion spaced from and opposite said side wall aperture, an elongated latch bolt slidably supported in said apertures, a shoulder on said latch bolt, a spring between said shoulder and said apertured portion of said supporting member to project said latch bolt under normal latching position, a handle having a handle portion and a bolt retracting portion, a pivot pin supported in said pivot bearing on said inclined supporting member and pivotally supporting said handle in position with said bolt retracting handle portion extending down through said aperture in said top wall and an abutment extending from said latch bolt in the path of said projecting handle portion to be engaged thereby for retracting said latch bolt by pivoting said handle on said axis.

8. In a latch structure, an exterior housing having a wall structure defining a chamber and an interior supporting member, means for holding said housing and said supporting member in mutual position, said Wall structure comprising a top wall having an aperture and a top wall portion extending from one edge of said aperture in inclined position thereover outside said chamber .f

together with a side wall having an aperture opposite and in alignment with said inclined top wall portion, said supporting member having at least one portion spaced from and opposite said aperture in said side wall and having in said portion an aperture forming with said aperture in said side Wall a slide way, a plate formed latch bolt mounted in said slide way to reciprocate therein projecting through said aperture in said side wall, said supporting member further having projecting handle portion to be engaged thereby for retracting said latch bolt by pivoting said handle, a further projection on said latch bolt and a spring between said further projection and said supporting structure portion opposite said aperture in said side wall for projecting said latch bolt.

9. In a latch mechanism, the combination of a housing having a top Wall and a side Wall structure, an opening in said side wall structure, an opening in said top wall, a latch bolt mounted to reciprocate in said housing, said latch bolt having a rear end and a front end, said front end projecting through said opening in said side wall and guided in said opening, a spring for projecting said latch bolt, guiding means for said rear end of said latch bolt, a supporting member arranged in said housing and secured relatively thereto, said supporting member having a portion extending through said opening in said top wall, a bolt retracting handle pivotally mounted on said extending portion of said supporting member, said handle having a bolt retracting portion projecting into said housing through said opening in said top Wall to engage said latch bolt and retract the same responsive to a pull action pivoting said handle relatively to said housing.

l0. In a latch mechanism, the combination of a housing having a top wall and a side wall structure, an opening in said top wall, an opening in said side Wall structure, a latch bolt having a front end and a rear end, said front end projecting through said opening in said side Wall, means for guiding the reai` end of said latch bolt, a spring for projecting the front end of said latch bolt, a supporting member arranged in said housing and secured relatively thereto, said supporting member having a portion extending out through said opening in said top wall, a tiltable handle having a portion extending into said housing through said opening in Said top wall, handle supporting means carried by said portion of said supporting member which extends through said opening in said top wall and an abutment on said latch bolt extending into the path of said portion of said handle which extends into said housing, said projection on said latch bolt being located to be engaged by said handle portion to retract said latch bolt when said handle is tilted in one direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

